Hydraulic classifier for ores.



PATENTED SEPT. 17., 1907.

y s. R. SWAIN. HYDRAULIC GLASSIPIER PoR 0R66.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 26,1905.

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No. 866,536. PATENTBD SEPT. 17,'190'7, S. R. SWAIN.

HYDRAULIC GLASSIFIBB. PORORES.

APPLIOATIQN FILED Nov.2e,19os.

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ytremely delicate mechanical operation.

UNTTED STATES SETH R. SWAIN, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

HYDRAULIC CLASSIFIER FOR CRES.

speeineation of Letters ratent.

Patented sept. 1'7, 1907.

Application filed November 26,1906. Serial NO- 345,180.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, Sn'rn R. SwArN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Hydraulic Classiiiersfor Orcs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in hydraulic classifiers for oresand in the method of treatment.

Although the principle of hydraulic classification of ores is prettygenerally acknowledged as being the most economical, still the resultsobtained in its achievement have generally been unsatisfactory and thereason is probably due to the comparatively little study which is giventhe subject, for when a hydraulic classification is desired, a devicehas generally been installed which has been closely copied from someother in use at some plant where conditions and ore may have beenentirely different. .ln some instances where this has been done, theclassifier may have given good results, but when ores, whose componentsare close in specific gravities, are to be handled, the utmost care andnicety must be exercised in their treatment, Afor the hydraulicclassification of ores is an ex- Whilc it would be impossible to designa classifier of this character, which would be absolutely universal,still it is possible to do so within certain limits. Thus a classifiercould be made to handle certain ores in a maximum quantity carrying withit a certain amount of water and delivering specified spigot products.Adjustn'ients could be incorporated in the machine that would allow ofthe changing of the quantity of ore and water in varying proportions andalso of the making of a di fierent spigot product while at the same timethe classifier would be doing its best work.

The object of my present invention is to provide a hydraulic classifierwhich will be adjustable to the greatest degree commensurate with thebest results. Such a classifier must include a sorting column, ahydraulic upward current, some sort of settling arrangement with meansfor eliminating rejected fines, any one of which elements isinsufficient, but the proper combination of them all, each doing itsproportion of work is what will produce the perfect apparatus. Forinstance, suppose some crushed ore be fed into a column through which ispassing a well regulated upward current of water, such particles are ofsuicient weight will fall through the current, while those too lightwill be held at the top of the column, but if the Yfines in suspensionare not removed from their position directly over the column they willremain there only until a suflicient quantity or weight is accumulatedand then drop in a body through the current which rejected themindividually, but which lost its power due to their accumulation. Thus,it will be seen that 4a most perfectly designed sorting column would notperform the work expected of it unless combined with means for carryingaway such fines as it would reject.

lt is the purpose of the present invention to bring about these resultsin the most economical manner possible and with the foregoing object inview, my present invention consists in certain novel features ofconstruction and procedure which will be hereinafter described andpointed out in the claims.

ln the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a view partly in sectionthrough the classifier. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail in section throughthe sorting column.

In Fig. l is shown a box or trough A which is made of sufliciont widthand depth to easily carryvthe lfeed and water which is introduced at A.and flows in the direction indicated by the arrow. The inclination ofthe trough is to be such as to cause an easy flow that will freely carrythe large particles along the bottoni.

The letter a is a fixed baffle board whose lower end extends down atleast four inches into the pocket B. A screen b preferably bridges overfrom the bottom of the trough to the baffle board aand the openings inthis screen are at least five times the size of the largest particlebeing treated. The function of this screen b at this point is toslightly retard the finer particles in the eddies lformed directlybeneath the wires so that the coarser particles settle while the finesare kept in agitation and suspension.

The letter c indicates a movable board which is adjustable by means ofthe toggles d, d, through the medium of the connecting rod c, bell cranke and operating rod c2.

D, represents the sorting column fully set forth in .my applicationfiled November 2G, 1906, Serial No. 345,179. This is bolted to thebottom oi' the pocket so that it is directly beneath the opening O. Thesorting column is shown in detail in Fig. 2. The numeral l is a flangeby which the sorting column is bolted to the bottom of thc pocket. Apipe 2 preferably screws into this flange l and extends downwardly; withit the glass tube 4 is adjustably connected through the stuffing box 3.The glass part 4 of thc sorting column is of proper diameter to slipinto the pipe 2. n water chamber (i has connected with it an outer tube7 to which is connected a box 8 in which the lower end oi' the glasspart i is adjustable. lhe outer tube 7 is provided with perforations 9,which distribute the water in the annular opening between itself and theinner tube 10. The numeral l'l. indicates the discharge pipe and l2 is aspigot. These lowcr parts are sustained by means of rods '1.3, lf3,which scrcw into the flange l., while the nuts 14, 114, ot' these rodsare adjustable to vary the length of the sorting column. The principalportion oi' the water issuing in the upward current is admitted througha gate valve l-l by means of a short hose l5 to chamber 6 and anothersupply is possible through a mechanically operated gate valve l to thesame chamber. The object of the additional current is to create apulsating effect the tendency of which is to disperse any accumulationin the top of the column. This gate valve 16 could be easily arranged tobe mechanically operated to open at stated intervals, as for instancebythe employment of an eccentric l19 on shaft 20 and a connecting rod 18which extends from the eccentric to the stem 17 of the valve. 1t isunderstood of course, that any number of these sorting columns might beemployed and by the medium of the rods and bell cranks e, cf, e2, theoperation in all would be alike as the several spaces C C could bechanged to the proper size to dispose of the rejects from the sortingcolumn.

In operation, the ore fed in at A/ is carried by the Water and theinclination of the trough to the first pocket where it easily passes thescreen b, the meshes of which are of large dimensions. The tendency ofthe screen at this point is to slightly retard the finer particles inthe eddies iormed directly beneath the wires and thus the coarserparticles settle while the nes are kept in agitation and suspension. Thepulp passes under the iixed baille board a and directly over the sortingcolumn D. The hydraulic upward current should be absolutely uniform, andunder instant and certain 'control and its mode oi introduction one thatwill cause the least number oi eddies and counter currents. Experimentshave shown that an evenly rising current is better than a vortex whenthe length oi sorting column is accurately proportioned. The vortexcurrent contains and produces the objectionable eddies and countercurrents. The hydraulic pressure, it will be assumed, has been regulatedfor t-he desired spigot product. The spigot has a constant opening. Theelimination of eddies and counter currents in the column is accomplishedby the peculiar combined arrangement o water Chamber, and outer tubewith the perforations, and the inner tube, which properly distributesthe water. This causes a quiet upward current which allows the properlyweighted particles to fall, while those too light are held without thetube. Perhaps the length of the sorting column is not correct for theproduct desired. A glance at the interior oi the sorting column throughthe glass portion will quickly tell and its length can be adjusted bymeans oi the slip joint shown at 3, Fig, 2. Should the iines beaccumulating over the column in the pocket to the extent that they fallin the downward current, the glass portion oi the column would show it,and an adjustment oi the movable board c contracting-the opening C willcarry these fines to the next compartment.

When an ore having components with similar gravities, is being treatedit might be well to have additional currents which would pulsate ineffect and would tend to disperse the accumulation in the top of thecolumn. This is easily provided l'or by the use oi the Vgate valve Owhich can be mechanically operated to open at stated intervals. lt willbeunderstood that the combination introduced in this classifier admitsof thorough adjustment which will permit of variations of feed withoutimpairing its efficiency. The length of the sorting column is readilychanged to accommodate conditions. The glass portion of the top allowsinterior inspection, which shows the exact action and may suggest anyadjustment needed. This system may be carried through any number ofpockets, two only of which are illustrated. The linal overflow should beimpounded in a settling box. The discharge may be regulated to thicken.The settling arrangement may bejof different forms, but it is requiredto bring all ore particles in contact with the hydraulic current andsimplicity of design with positive operation is the principlenecessitated.

This classifier is especially adapted to a lead-zinc-iron classilicationas experiment has shown but it is evident it could be applied to allclasses of work.

lt is evident that more or less slight changes might be resorted to inthe form and arrangement of the several parts described withoutdeparting irom the spirit and scope oi my invention, and hence l do notwish to limit myself to the eXact construction herein set forth, but:-

Having l'ully described my invention, what l claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

l. The combination with a trough having a pocket therein, a iixed and amovable baille hoard in said pocket and means i'or moving the movablebaille board bodily to one side.

2. The combination with a trough having a pocket therein, a fixed and amovable baille board in said pocket the latteal movable bodily to oneside, lneans ior adjusting the movable baille board, and a screenextending from one end of the pocket to the iixed baille board.

2%. The combination with a trough having a pocket therein, a iixed and amovable baille board in said pocket and means for adjusting the movablebaille board bodily to one side and a sortingl column leading into thepocket.

4. The combination with a trough having a pocket therein, a fixed and amovable baille board in said pocket, means for side, and

pocket.

5. The combination with a trough having a pocket therein, a fixed and amovable baille board in said pocket, means for adjusting the movablebaille board bodily to one side, a sorting column leading into thepocket, and means ior controlling the waterilow therein.

G. The combination with a trough having a pocket therein, a iixed and amovable baille board in said pocket, means for adjusting the movablebaille board bodily to one side, a sorting column leading into thepocket, means for controlling the water [low therein and means l'orcreating a pulsating current in the water.

ln testimony whereof l have signed my name to this speciiication in theprcseneeol' two subscribing witnesses.

an adjustable sorting column leading into the SETH R. SWAIN.

Witnesses (ii-:onen L. Honoris, l). EDGAR WILsoN.

adjusting the movable baille board bodily to one

